Minutes from the Departmental Board meeting on 20 December 2021.
Attendees:
- Mike Brennan (Chair)
- David Malcolm
- Heather Cousins
- Shane Murphy
- Richard Rodgers
- Michelle Bell
- Sharon Hetherington
- (name redacted)
- Keith Forster (Deputising for Paul Grocott)
- Colm McKenna (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Fiona Keenan (Non-Executive Board Member)
In attendance:
- (name redacted) (Permanent Secretary’s Office)
- (name redacted) (Secretariat)
- (name redacted) (Boardroom Apprentice)
- (name redacted) (For ODT only)
- (name redacted) (For ODT only)
- (name redacted) (For ODT only)
Apologies: Paul Grocott, Colin Woods
Agenda
| Agenda item |
Actions Arising |
Action Owner and Current Position (to be completed prior to the next Board Meeting) |
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Agenda Item 1:Declaration of Interests
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None
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Agenda Item 2: Minutes 25/11/21 Board meeting
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Agreed without amendment.
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Agenda Item 3:
Strategic Issues
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There was discussion on a number of areas:-
- Covid – Potential restrictions, potential impacts through absenteeism.
- Work of the NI Audit Office in the current environment.
- General staffing pressures throughout the NICS and consequent difficulty progressing work.
- Investment Strategy and timing when it will be taken to the Executive.
- NI Water funding.
- Potential for grant schemes.
- Current position with standing up CCG(NI).
- An additional Non Executive Board Member, (name redacted), will join from January’s Board meeting.
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Agenda Item 4: Monitoring Round and Finance Update
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Sharon Hetherington presented:
January Monitoring – Stage 1
- £41m has been surrendered, mainly from the Economic Recovery Action Plan, but also from staff vacancies, apprenticeships and further education.
- Some areas of expenditure where spend is not yet clear including the High Street Scheme but hope to firm things over the Xmas period.
- Just over £16m capital is being held back which has been earmarked for spend.
Budget
- A draft budget has been received from the Finance Minister proposing cuts including to DfE.
- There is no priority for the economy within the budget.
- The capital allocation to DfE is concerning, particularly year 3.
- Future commitments to be paused until more work has been done. Leadership to meet mid-Jan to consider the position.
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Agenda Item 5: Questions on Papers to Note
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- HR Update - No questions.
- Diversity Action Plan - Several group meetings have been held. Just to note.
- Staff Engagement - DfE had highest response rate at 66.4 per cent.
- Project Stratum - Disappointment with Comptroller and Auditor Genaral comments. Additional funding should cover virtually every household.
- Board Operating Framework - No questions
- RHI Lessons Learned update - No questions
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Agenda Item 6:
Organisational Delivery and Transformation Programme
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Board members convened a Programme Board meeting for the rest of the available time.
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Agenda Item 7:
AOB
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Accounts
- Disappointment with the further delay with signing off the Annual Accounts.
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Date of Next Meeting – Thursday 27 January at 10.30 am
